Restoration lags for Syria's famed Roman ruins at Palmyra and other war-battered historic sites

PALMYRA, Syria (AP) — At the height of the Islamic State group's rampage across Syria, the world watched in horror as the militants blew up an iconic arch and temple in the country’s famed Roman ruins in Palmyra. Eight years later, IS has lost its hold but restoration work on the...

UN: Staggering 15.3 million Syrians, nearly 70% of population, need aid

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — For the first time in Syria’s 12-year war, people in every district are experiencing some degree of “humanitarian stress,” and a staggering 15.3 million — nearly 70% of the population — need humanitarian aid, the United Nations said Tuesday. A U.N....

Emirati leaders invite Israel's Netanyahu, Herzog, to join COP28 climate conference in Dubai

JERUSALEM (AP) — Emirati leaders extended a long-sought invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend the U.N climate conference, known as COP28, in November. The United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh...

Saudi surge of diplomacy brings Assad, Zelenskyy to Arab summit

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia hosted an Arab League summit on Friday in which Syrian President Bashar Assad was welcomed back after a 12-year suspension and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to rally support against Russia. Russian airstrikes...

Tunisian leader calls meeting with Syria's Assad 'historic,' buries memories of Arab Spring

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Smiles, a handshake and what Tunisian President Kais Saied called a “historic meeting” with the long-ostracized Syrian leader Bashar Assad. The talks between the two presidents, held before the start on Friday of the Arab League summit in Saudi...

Syria's Assad arrives in Saudi Arabia for regional summit, sealing his return to the Arab fold

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived on Thursday in Saudi Arabia to attend a regional summit that is expected to seal Syria's return to the Arab fold, marking his first visit to the oil-rich kingdom since Syria’s conflict began in 2011. Assad's...

Syrian President Bashar Assad arrives in Saudi Arabia for 1st regional summit in 12 years, seals his return to Arab fold

US Navy commander: No real change in Russian military's conduct toward Western warships in east Med

LIMASSOL, Cyprus (AP) — A U.S. Navy commander said Wednesday there is “no significant change” in the conduct of Russian aircraft and warships toward Western naval and air assets in the eastern Mediterranean as Moscow’s war in Ukraine grinds on. Cmdr. Peter C. Flynn said that...

Arab foreign ministers welcome Syria's return to the Arab League ahead of Jeddah summit

BEIRUT (AP) — Arab foreign ministers Wednesday in Saudi Arabia welcomed back Syria to the Arab League and called for a cease-fire in conflict-hit Sudan ahead of the organization's annual summit taking place in the kingdom. This year's summit, starting Friday in the city of Jeddah,...

Returning to the Arab fold, Syria's president invited to UAE-hosted COP28 climate

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad received an invitation to attend the upcoming COP28 climate talks in Dubai later this year, even as the yearslong war in his country over his rule grinds on. Assad's invite, late Monday, to the climate...